Over 182, 000 individuals have left for foreign jobs this year Authorities warn public not to fall prey to fake job opportunities overseas

• There is a high demand for countries like Canada, New Zealand and Europe to apply for foreign employment

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

With the social media infested with mushrooming job opportunities in overseas destinations, local authorities warned the public to be watchful in falling prey to these scams losing millions of rupees.   

 An official of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) told the Daily Mirror that they keep educating the public not to be deceived by scores of fake foreign employment scams that emerge everyday through social media.   

SLBFE Deputy General Manager P. G. G. S. Yapa said about 182,000 individuals have left Sri Lanka for foreign job opportunities since January 1, this year and the figure is ever changing.   

He said there is a high demand for countries like Canada, New Zealand and Europe to apply for foreign employment and as a result many shady characters make millions of rupees out of unsuspecting applicants.   
“There was a bogus job order in Canada a few months ago that we took action to thwart, whilst last week we raided a place and prevented another major attempt to send a large group to Korea. Some individuals have paid Rs.200,000 to 300,000 for this scam,” the official said.   

He said due to the prevailing economic situation in the country scores of people tend to leave for greener pastures and whilst doing so they get caught up in scams. “We ask the prospective applicants to be extra careful when applying for a foreign job,” DGM Yapa said.